Ball washer



Sept. 3, 1963 FRATER 3,102,291

BALL WASHER Filed March 21, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TOR.

6:026! 61 ITeurm BY United States Patent 3,102,291. BALL WASHER i} G. Frater, Watertown, Wis., assignor to G. B. Lewis Qompany, Watertown, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Mar. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 97,218 14 Claims. (Cl. 15-21) This invention relates to a ball washer and particularly to a hand-operated washing unit for cleaning golf balls and similar articles.

Conventionally, hand-operated golf ball washers are provided on golf courses for the players to clean their balls as they proceed about the course. A very common golf ball washer is generally shown n US. Patent 1,747,724 to Mollart. As disclosed theren, a pair of elongated scrubbing brushes are secured in opposed relation within a suitable container and spaced somewhat less than the diameter of a golf ball. The container is substantially filled with water or other cleanmg solution and a suitable plunger is slidably mounted between the brushes. The plunger includes an opening into which the golf ball is inserted. By manually reciprocatmg the plunger up and down between the brushes, the ball is scrubbed clean of dirt and other foreign matter. The top and lower wall of the ball opening in the plunger slant in both a longitudinal and lateral direction to impart a rotation to the ball as it is moved between the brushes and establish scrubbing of the complete ball surface.

Although the above apparatus provides a particularly simple and inexpensive means for cleaning of golf balls, it has been found that the gravity on the ball works against the movement of the ball upwardly along the top wall of the inclined opening and prevents complete movement. Thus, the ball moves only partly up the top wall during the downstroke of the plunger. As a result, rotation of ball is incomplete and the washing and scrub bing action is incomplete.

An open top container results in possible splashing of the cleaning fluid from the container onto the players and the ground. New fluid must therefor he often supplied. Further, the plunger can be completely removed from the structure and the ball falls from the opening onto the ground.

The present invention is directed to a substantially enclosed reciprocating ball washer providing an improved Washing action. Applicant has found that the slant angle of the top wall must be somewhat greater with respect to the horizontal than the lower or bottom wall for any given plunger stroke to impart optimum rotation during both the downstroke and the upstroke.

In accordance with the present invention, the inclined plunger opening is defined by an upper slanting wall having a greater angle with the horizontal than the lower wall defining the corresponding opening. The side Walls forming the opening are joined to the upper and lower walls by arcuate corners to improve the movement of the ball within the opening.

The container for the brushes and the plunger is preferably formed as a closed member having a side wall opening above the brushes. The plunger in the uppermos position aligns the lower end of the slanting or inclined opening in the plunger with the opening in the 3,102,291 Patented Sept. 3, 1963 container. Consequently, the ball can only be introduced into the container with the plunger in the raised position and cannot be inadvertently inserted into the container while the plunger is in the depressed position. Further, the opening is arranged with respect to the lateral inclination of the plunger opening such that the lower surface defining the plunger opening causes the ball to roll outwardly through the opening for removal after cleaning. Means are also provided to move the ball to the upper edge of the inclined lower surface to provide maximum gravity acceleration to the ball.

The scrubbing brushes are preferably offset in the direction of the plunger movement. Consequently, as the plunger moves the ball into the opposite ends of the scrubbing surfaces, the offset portions impart a positive rotation to the ball and thereby continuously present a new starting surface of the ball to the brushes.

The present invention provides a ball washer having excellent washing characteristics which can be operated readily without loss of the cleaning fluid. Maintenance and servicing will be minimal and inexpensive.

The drawings furnished herewith illustrates the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf ball washer supported on the upper end of a supporting pole;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section with a ball moving plunger in the uppermost position;

FlG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through the plunger;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2 with one-half of the outer container or container wall removed;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 with the plunger located approximately midway of the downstroke;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lower portion of FIG. 2, illustrating the ball position at the lower position of the plunger; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 showing the apparatus with the plunger in the ball discharge position.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a golf ball washer 1 constructed in accordance with the present invention is secured to the upper end of a vertical supporting pole 2 secured within the ground 3. An upper entrance opening 4 is provided in the upper portion of washer 1 and permits introduction of a golf ball 5 or the like into the washer. A plunger 6 is reciprocally mounted within the washer and includes an opening 7 aligned with the entrance opening 4 with the plunger 6 in the uppermost position. A plunger rod 8 is secured to the upper end of the plunger 6 and is slidably mounted within a bearing opening in the top wall of the washer 1. An actuating knob or grip 9 is secured to the uppermost end of rod 8 for comfortable grasping thereof and operation of the plunger 6. The plunger 6 may thus be vertically reciprocated within the washer 1 by raising and lowering of the plunger rod 8.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, a pair of brushes 10 and 11 or scriub-bin g members are secured within the washer on opposite sides of the path of plunger 6 to provide a scrubbing action on the surface of the ball 5 as the plunger 6 is moved up and down therein. A suitable cleaning fluid 12 such as clear water mixed with a suitable detergent is provided generally covering the brushes 10 and 11 to provide maximum cleaning action.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the washer 1 includes a two-piece hollow casting which is vertically split from front to back with the dividing line off center and bisecting the opening 4 and secured together by a plurality of nut and bolt assemblies 13. A suitable sealing gasket 1-4 is disposed between the mating halves of the hollow casting to maintain a tightly sealed joint preventing leakage of the cleaning fluid 12. A tubular axially extending hub 15 is integrally formed with the lower wall of the deeper section of the casting and projects over the upper end of the vertical supporting pole 2. A small set screw 16 is threaded through hub 15 and bears on pole 2 to releasably secure the washer 1 in position.

The ball washer 1 is generally divided into a lower wash ing chamber 17 and an upper entrance chamber 18.

The washing chamber 17 contains the brushes 10 and 11 and the cleaning fluid 12 and is generally an elongated chamber having slightly inwardly tapering side walls from top to bottom to produce a pleasing appearance. The upper end of chamber 17 is substantially closed by a top wall 19 having a lateral opening 20 for plunger 6 and ball 5. The forward edge of opening 20 lies immediately adjacent the plane of plunger 6 and the rearward edge is spaced inwardly somewhat more than the diameter of the golf ball 5.

The entrance chamber 18 is formed with a rear wall 21 and a front wall 22 extending upwardly from top wall 19 and a top wall 23. The rear wall 21 of the chamber 18 extends vertically upwardly in the plane of the rearward edge of opening 20 in top wall 19 and inwardly from the rear wall of chamber 17. The front wall 22 of chamber 18 includes opening 4 at one side thereof and is spaced forwardly of the forward edge of opening 20.

An encircling upstanding ridge 24 is provided on the outer edge of the top wall 19 to form a pair of trays which may be employed to support balls adjacent the front side and the back side of chamber 18 when sequentially washing a series of balls.

The top wall 23 of the entrance chamber 18 constitutes a stop for the plunger 6 aligning one end of the plunger opening 7 with the opening 4 in the front wall 22 of the entrance chamber 18.

The plunger 6 is generally a rectangular block-like member thinner than the diameter of the ball 5 and of a width generally corresponding to the width of washer 1. The plunger 6 is slidably mounted in recess tracks 25 integrally formed on opposite side walls of the washer 1. The tracks 25 guide the plunger 6 through the forward portion of opening 20 and centrally between the brushes and 11. The corners of plunger 6 are chamfered to reduce the resistance and splashing of the plunger as it moves through the water cleaning fluid 12.

The opening 7 in the plunger 6 extends at an incline laterally of washer 1 and is defined by a pair of generally vertical side walls joined by arcuate corners to a slanting top wall 26 and a slanting bottom wall 27. The walls 26 and 27 extend upwardly from the side of washer 1 which includes the ball opening 4 such that the ball 5 is inserted and removed from the lower end of the opening 7. As most clearly shown in FIG. 2, the top wall 2.6 defining opening 7 is inclined at a greater angle to the horizontal than the bottom wall 27. Top wall 26 and bottom wall 27 which border opening 7 extend transversely of the brushes 10 and 11 and are disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal. The opening 7 is slightly greater in depth than the diameter of the bal 5 adjacent the lower end of the opening and enlarges to the opposite end because of the increased slant of the top wall 26. The arcuate corners of opening 7 are all less than the radius of the ball to prevent arcuate contact with the ball and per mit relatively free movement of the ball within the opening 7 as the plunger 6 is vertically moved between the brushes 1t) and 11. With the plunger 6 in the uppermost position as shown in FIG. 2, the lower end of the opening 7 is aligned with the offset opening 4 in the side wall of the entrance chamber 18.

The top wall 26 and the bottom wall 27 are also laterally beveled or inclined upwardly from the front to the back of the washer, as shown in FIG. 3. As more fully described hereinafter, the slanting and inclined walll configuration within plunger opening 7 results in rotation of the ball between the brushes 10 and 11 to continuously present different surfaces of the ball for complete and thorough washing action.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 4, brushes 10 and 11 are similarly constructed and each includes a plurality of scrubbing bristles 29 or the like which are secured to a supporting back plate 30. The bristles 29 of the brushes 10' and 11 are offset vertically to provide a bristle-free area 31 on the back plates 30 and the brushes are located with the areas 31 on opposite ends of the pair of brushes 10 and 11. Thus, the brushes 10 and 11 can be similarly constructed and by inverted positioning within the washer 1, the bristle-free areas 31 are properly located as shown in FIG. 4.

The brushes 10 and 11 are similarly supported within the washer 1 by a pair of spaced upper U-shaped brackets 32 and a pair of lower U-shaped brackets 33. The several brackets 32 and 33 are integrally formed or cast with the wall of the chamber 17 and clamp the brushes 10 and 11 spaced generally in accordance with the width or thickness of the plunger 6. Suitable locating flanges 34 are also integrally formed within the chamber 17 of washer 1 adjacent the brackets 32 and 33 to properly locate and lock the brushes in place.

The chamber 1.7 includes a deflection wall 35 which is integrally connected with the forward edge of the opening 20 and extends angularly downwardly and forwardly. The lower end of the deflection wall overlies the uppermost end of the bristle-free backing 31 of the forward mounted brush 10. An integral splash wall 36 projects vertically downwardly from the rear edge of opening 20 and terminates in integral connection to the upper bracket 32 for brush Ill. The walls 35 and 36 partially close the path to opening 20 and reduce the possible movement of the cleaning fluid through the opening 2t). The deflection wall 35 also guides the ball 5 into the bristlefree area 31 incident the initial downstroke of the plunger 6 and from the washer 1 at the end of the upstroke.

A bottom stop ledge 39 for plunger 6 is formed in spaced relation to the lower wall of the chamber 17 and supported by an integrally cast upstanding web 38. The ledge 37 is aligned with the plunger 6 and determines the bottom position on the downstroke of the plunger.

The space beneath ledge 37 constitutes a sump beneath the brushes 10 and 11 and the plunger 6 within which dirt and other foreign matter 39 removed from the golf balls 5 can settle and accumulate. A drain plug 40 is provided in the bottom of chamber 17 for emptying the chamber 17 and cleaning the sump.

In operation, the illustrated ball washer functions as follows.

The plunger 6 is moved to the uppermost position as shown in FIG. 2 by pulling the plunger rod 8 upwardly. The plunger rod 8 spans the ball opening 4 in all other positions and consequently, prevents the introduction of a ball 5 until the plunger 6 has been properly positioned. In the uppermost position the lower end of the inclined opening 7 is aligned with the opening 4 in the wall 22. The golf ball 5 is inserted through opening 4 and into the opening 7 into the plunger 6. The ball 5 may be readily held in place with the ends of the operators fingers. The plunger rod 8 is depressed to move the plunger 6 and the ball 5 downwardly through the opening 20 and towards the brushes 10 and 11. The initial movement of the plunger 6 results in the ball moving downwardly and forwardly into the free area adjacent the upper end of brush as shown most clearly in FIG. 4. The further downward movement of the plunger 6 results in the forcing of the ball 5 in between the brush bristles 29 of the brushes 10 and 11. The end bristles 29 of brush 10 substantially engage the ball and exert a lifting force which causes roation of the ball as it moves in between the brushes. As the plunger '6 continues to move downwardly between brushes 10 and 11, the ball 5 rolls upwardly along the slanting top wall 26 imparting further rotation and ball surface exposure to the bristles 29. The increased angle causes the ball to move completely upwardly past the center line of the opening into the arcuate corner in response to a complete plunger downstroke with the plunger 6 engaging ledge 37. Referring panticularly to FIG. 5, at the midpoint of the plunger downstroke the ball 5 is approximately at the vertical midpoint of the common area of bristle 29 in brushes 10 and 11 and the ball 5 is generally moved one-half the distance along wall 26.

At the bottom of the downstnoke the ball 5 is in the upper corner of the plunger opening 7 as shown in P16. 6. With the plunger -6 engaging the ledge 37, the opening 7 of the plunger 6 is generally aligned with the bristlefree area 31 of the brush 11. The upper corner of the opening 7 in which the ball 5 is located and the upper portion of the ball 5 may be aligned with and held between the end most bristles 29 of brush 11 and the opposed bristles of brush 10, as most clearly shown in FIG. 4. The ball 5, however, shifts into the bristle-free area 31 of brush 11.

As the upstroke of the plunger 6 begins, the bottom wall 27 of opening 7 moves into engagement with ball 5 and carries it upwardly between the brushes 10 and t 11. The action of the end bristles 29 of brush 1! and the opposite bristles 29 of the brush 10 again imparts a positive rotation to the ball 5 during the initial plunger upstroke, to present new surfaces of the ball 5 to brushes 10 and 11.

During the plunger upstroke, the inclination of the lower wall 27 results in the movement of the ball downwardly along the surface to the initial starting point within the opening 7. l

A number of complete reciprocations of the plunger 6 provides complete and effective cleaning of the ball 5.

The'lateral or front to rear inclination of the walls 26 and 27 places more pressure on one brush than the other and results in rotation of the ball 5 upon a horizontal axis as the plunger 6 is moved upwardly and downwardly between the brushes 10 and 11. The rolling of the ball upwardly and downwardly on the walls 26 and 27, respectively, rotates the ball about a horizontal axis generally perpendicular to that of the lateral inclination and results in a continued washing of the complete surface of the ball. The bristle-free areas 31 on the brushes it and 1 1 impart a positive rotation to the ball at each end of a stroke to present a new starting position of the ball 5.

Thus by moving the plunger 6 rapidly up and down within the chamber 18 the ball 5 is quickly and thoroughly cleaned.

At the end of the washing period, the plunger 6 is rapidly retracted to the uppermost position within the entrance chamber 18. As the plunger 6 and ball 5 move upwardly past the deflection wall 35, the ball strikes the wall 35 and is forced rearwardly within the opening 7 toward the rear wall 21 of chamber 18. At the uppermost end of the plunger 6, as shown in FIG. 7, the ball 5 is generally positioned at the top edge of the lateral inclination of the bottom wall 27. The ball will roll outwardly due to the inclination of the bottom wall 27 toward and through the opening 4 under the force of gravity. Further, the force of the ball 5 striking wall 35 may impart sufficient momentum to ball 5 to cause the ball to partially rebound from the rear wall 21 outwardly through opening 4.

The reciprocation of plunger 6 results in substantial splashing of the cleaning fluid 12. The deflection wall 35 and the vertical wall 36 substantially prevent water moving upwardly of the front and rear walls of chambers 18 from passing outwardly through opening 20. The inward projection of the top wall 19 of chamber 18 further reduces the loss of cleaning fluid 12 to a relatively inconsequential amount.

Periodically the drain plug 40 is removed, the sump beneath ledge 37 flushed to remove foreign matter 39 and the cleaning fluid 12 replaced.

The present invention thus provides a substantially enclosed reciprocating type ball washer having an improved scrubbing action fior insuring thorough cleaning of a golf ball or the like.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

1 claim:

1. In a ball washing device, a hollow housing adapted to contain a cleaning fluid, a pair of brushes secured in opposed relation in the housing and spaced to allow movement of a ball therebetween in scrubbing engagement with the brushes, and a vertically moving plunger slidably mounted between said brushes, said plunger having an inclined opening extending transversely of the brushes with the upper wall of the opening at a greater angle to the horizontal than the lower wall, said upper wall and said lower wall being laterally inclined at substantially the same angle.

2. The construction of claim 1 having an entrance opening in the housing adjacent the lower end of the inclined opening and adjacent the lower edge of the lateral inclination of the lower wall when the plunger is at the upper end of its stroke of reciprocation, a stop wall opposite said entrance opening preventing movement of the ball through the inclined opening, and an angularly arranged vertical deflection wall immediately below the entrance opening and in the path of an upwardly moving ball within the plunger to deflect the ball laterally of the opening upon movement into alignment of the plunger opening with the entrance opening.

3. The construction of claim 1 wherein said housing is substantially closed and provided with an entrance opening in the upper end of the housing, and splash preventing walls within the housing immediately beneath said entrance opening to substantially prevent splashing of the cleaning fluid from the housing.

4. In a ball washing device, a hollow housing, a pair of brushes secured in opposed relation and spaced to allow movement of a ball therebetween in scrubbing engagement with the brushes, and a plunger slidab ly mounted between said brushes, said plunger having a front surface disposed adjacent one of said brushes and having a rear surface disposed adjacent the other of said brushes and said plunger having an inclined opening extending transversely of the brushes with the upper wall of the opening being disposed at a greater angle to the horizontal than the lower wall, said upper wall and said lower wall being inclined in a direction from said front surface to said rear surface, and the washing surfaces of the brushes being offset in the direction of plunger travel to impart rotation to the ball as the ball is moved into the brushes.

5. In a ball washing device, a vertically elongated housing being closed except for an entrance opening in the upper end of the housing with the opening having a generally horizontal axis, a reciprocating plunger mounted for vertical movement within the housing and having an opening to receive a ball, said opening being inclined from one side of the housing to the other and having the lower end aligned with said entrance opening in the top position of the plunger, an operating member secured to the plunger and projecting upwardly through the top wall of the housing, said operating member being aligned with the entrance opening to prevent insertion of a ball with the plunger beneath the top position, a pair of opposed scrubbing members mounted in spaced relation to allow movement of the plunger therebetween, and means to limit the stroke of the plunger, said opening in the plunger being defined by inclined upper and lower walls with said upper and lower walls being inclined in the same general direction and with the upper wall having a greater incline angle than said lower wall.

6. In a ball washing device including a vertically reciprocalting plunger 'with an opening accommodating a ball, a pair of identically constructed brushes with flexible washing bristles and having the bristles removed from an end portion, means securing the brushes in opposed relation to opposite sides of the path of the plunger with removed bristles on opposite vertical ends to impart rotation to the ball as the ball is moved between the opposite ends of the opposed brushes.

7. In a ball washing device, a generally closed receptacle having a lower washing chamber and an upper entrance chamber secured thereto with the front and back wall of the entrance chamber set inwardly of the front and back walls of the washing chamber, said entrance chamber having a front wall opening adjacent one side thereof, said washing chamber having an upper wall extending inwardly of the entrance chamber front wall and having a vertical opening in the back portion of the entrance chamber, a pair of opposed scrubbing brushes secured within the washing chamber in spaced relation and in alignment with said vertical opening, a plunger slidably mounted in the receptacle for movement between the chambers and between the brushes, an actuator secured to the plungers and projecting upwardly through the top wall of the entrance chamber, said plunger having an opening with a lower wall slanting upwardly from the front to the back of the receptacle, a deflection wall extending downwardly and inwardly from the forward edge of the vertical opening and forcing the ball toward the upper end of the inclined surface upon upward movement of the plunger for removing the ball from said entrance chamber.

8. In a ball washing device, a closed receptacle including a lower washing chamber and an upper entrance chamber and having an upper centrally oil-set opening in the front wall of the entrance chamber, a pair of opposed scrubbing brushes secured within the receptacle in spaced relation below said opening and having opposed scrubbing bristles, a plunger slidably mounted for vertical movement between the brushes within the receptacle and having an actuator projecting upward through the uppermost wall of the receptacle, said plunger having an inclined opening defined by a pair of generally parallel vertical walls joined to a slanting top wall and slanting lower wall by curved corners, the lower end of said inclined opening being aligned with the off-set receptacle opening with the plunger at the top of the upstroke, the top wall having a greater angle of tilt than the lower wall and the curve of the corners being less than the curvature of the ball, the top and bottom wall of said plunger opening similarly slanting sideways'upwardly from the front to the back, the bristles of said brushes being longitudinally offset to define a bristle-free forward area at the upper end and a bristle-free rear area at the lower end of the plunger stroke, the bottom wall of the plunger opening biasing the ball away from the brush and the top wall of the plunger biasing the ball away from the lowermost brush, an upper wall in said washing chamber having an opening with the forward edge adjacent the front plane of the plunger and the rearward edge spaced from the back plane of the plunger, a deflection wall extending transversely of the receptacle and downwardly and forwardly from the forward edge of the opening in the upper wall, said deflection wall forcing the ball to the top edge of the sideways inclination of the lower wall of the plunger opening upon rapid upward movement of the plunger into the uppermost position, a splash wall extending downwardly from the back edge of the opening in the upper wall, a stop ledge secured to and spaced from the bottom of the receptacle in alignment with the plunger to restrict downward movement of the plunger and to define a bottom sump, and a releasably closed drain opening in the sump.

9. In a ball washing device, a hollow housing provided with an inlet opening having a substantially horizontal axis on which a ball is adapted to be inserted into said housing, a pair of scrubbing members secured in opposed relation and spaced to allow movement of a ball therebetwcen in scrubbing engagement with the scrubbing members, a vertically movable plunger slidably mounted between said scrubbing members, said plunger having an inclined ball receiving opening with the upper wall and lower wall defining said opening extending transversely of the scrubbing members and being disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal, and a splash preventing wall disposed within the housing and located beneath the inlet opening and projecting inwardly of the housing above one of said scrubbing members, said splash preventing wall preventing splashing of a cleaning fluid from the housing through said inlet opening.

10. In a ball washing device, a vertically elongated housing having an entrance opening in a side wall with the opening being offset from the vertical center line of said side wall, a reciprocating plunger mounted for vertical movement within the housing and having an inclined opening to receive a ball with the upper and lower walls defining said opening extending transversely of the direction of reciprocation of the plunger and being disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal, the lower end of said inclined opening being aligned with said entrance opening when the plunger is in its top position, an operating member secured to the plunger and projecting up wardly through the top wall of the housing, said operating member being offset from the vertical center line of the plunger and being aligned with the entrance opening to prevent insertion of a ball when the plunger is beneath its top position, and a pair of opposed brushes mounted in spaced relation to each other within the housing to allow movement of the plunger therebetween.

11. In a ball washing device, an outer casing, and a plunger disposed for reciprocating movement within the casing and having an elongated opening extending transversely of the direction of reciprocation of said plunger, said opening adapted to receive a ball to be cleaned by selective movement of the plunger between a pair of opposed scrubbing members, said opening in the plunger being defined by a pair of opposite first walls extending parallel to the direction of reciprocation of the plunger and defined by a pair of opposite second walls having a greater length than said first walls and extending at an inclined angle to the direction of reciprocation and parallel with the length of said opening, one of said second walls being disposed at a greater inclined angle than the other of said second walls to thereby produce complete movement of the ball within the opening during a complete plunger stroke.

12. The ball washing device of claim 11, wherein the pair of opposed scrubbing members are of substantially equal length and offset in the direction of plunger reciprocation to impart rotation to the ball as the ball is moved between said opposed scrubbing members.

13. The ball washing device of claim 11 in which the casing is provided with an entrance opening aligned with the plunger opening when the plunger is at one end of its stroke of reciprocating travel to properly locate the ball within said plunger.

14. In a ball washing device, a casing, a reciprocating plunger movable within the casing and having an unob- 9 structed opening substantially larger than the size of the ball and extending through the plunger to freely accommodate the ball, a pair of scrubbing members of substantially equal length disposed in opposed parallel relation on opposite sides of the path of the plunger and corresponding ends of the scrubbing members being offset in the direction of plunger travel with the upper end of the first scrubbing member of said pair projecting upwardly beyond the corresponding upper end of the second scrubbing member and the lower end of said second scrubbing member projecting downwardly beyond the corresponding lower end of the first scrubbing member, and a stop disposed in the lower end of the casing and 10 engageable by the plunger to limit the downward stroke of travel of the plunger, said opening being disposed in alignment with the projecting lower end of said second scrubbing member when the plunger is in engagement with the stop to impart rotation to the ball.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,320,633 Minkler Nov. 4, 1919 1,747,724 Mollart Feb. 18, 1930 1,773,149 Laing Aug. 19, 1930 2,617,132 Goller Nov. 11, 1952 2,822,558 Vau-dervort et al Feb. 11, 1958 

1. IN A BALL WASHING DEVICE, A HOLLOW HOUSING ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A CLEANING FLUID, A PAIR OF BRUSHES SECURED IN OPPOSED RELATION IN THE HOUSING AND SPACED TO ALLOW MOVEMENT OF A BALL THEREBETWEEN IN SCRUBBING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BRUSHES, AND A VERTICALLY MOVING PLUNGER SLIDABLY MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID BRUSHES, SAID PLUNGER HAVING AN INCLINED OPENING EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE BRUSHES WITH THE UPPER WALL OF THE OPENING AT A GREATER ANGLE TO THE HORIZONTAL THAN THE LOWER WALL, SAID UPPER WALL AND SAID LOWER WALL BEING LATERALLY INCLINED AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME ANGLE. 